Inbred maize line PH24E

ABSTRACT

An inbred maize line, designated PH24E, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line PH24E, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line PH24E with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH24E with another maize line or plant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of maize breeding, specifically relatingto an inbred maize line designated PH24E.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety or hybridvarious desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may includeresistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought,reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomicquality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plantcharacteristics such as germination and stand establishment, growthrate, maturity, and plant and ear height, is important.

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of theplant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen fromone flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the sameplant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower ona different plant.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between twodifferent homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybridplants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of twoplants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce apopulation of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not beuniform.

Maize (zea mays L.), often referred to as corn in the United States, canbe bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Maizehas separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on thetassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in maizewhen wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude fromthe tops of the ears.

A reliable method of controlling male fertility in plants offers theopportunity for improved plant breeding. This is especially true fordevelopment of maize hybrids, which relies upon some sort of malesterility system. There are several options for controlling malefertility available to breeders, such as: manual or mechanicalemasculation (or detasseling), cytoplasmic male sterility, genetic malesterility, gametocides and the like.

Hybrid maize seed is typically produced by a male sterility systemincorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of twoinbred varieties of maize are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearingtassels are removed from one of the inbreds (female). Providing thatthere is sufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, theears of the detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the otherinbred (male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will formhybrid plants.

The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling process can beavoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMSinbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting from thecytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, thischaracteristic is inherited exclusively through the female parent inmaize plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilizedseed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from another inbred that isnot male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may or may notcontribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile. Usually seedfrom detasseled fertile maize and. CMS produced seed of the same hybridare blended to insure that adequate pollen loads are available forfertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterilityavailable, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations withinthe genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations asdescribed by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. Theseand all patents referred to are incorporated by reference. In additionto these methods, Albertsen et al., of Pioneer Hi-Bred, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/848,433, have developed a system of nuclear malesterility which includes: identifying a gene which is critical to malefertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to malefertility; removing the native promoter from the essential malefertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; insertingthis genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creatinga plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not "on"resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility isrestored by inducing, or turning "on", the promoter, which in turnallows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed.

There are many other methods of conferring genetic male sterility in theart, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These methods use avariety of approaches such as delivering into the plant a gene encodinga cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specific promoter oran antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility is identifiedand an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see:Fabinjanski, et al. EPO 89/3010153.8 publication no. 329,308 and PCTapplication PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).

Another system useful in controlling male sterility makes use ofgametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topicalapplication of chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are criticalto male fertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertilityin the plants only for the growing season in which the gametocide isapplied (see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application ofthe gametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity oftenlimit the usefulness of the approach.

The use of male sterile inbreds is but one factor in the production ofmaize hybrids. The development of maize hybrids requires., in general,the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines,and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrentselection breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines frombreeding populations. Breeding programs combine the genetic backgroundsfrom two or more inbred lines or various other broad-based sources intobreeding pools from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing andselection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with otherinbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated todetermine which of those have commercial potential.

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each ofwhich may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking inthe other or which complements the other. If the two original parents donot provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can beincluded in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superiorplants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In thesucceeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way tohomogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection.Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations ofselfing and selection is practiced: F₁ →F₂ ; F₃ →F₄ ; F₄ →F₅, etc.

Recurrent selection breeding, backcrossing for example, can be used toimprove an inbred line. Backcrossing can be used to transfer a specificdesirable trait from one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks thattrait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing asuperior inbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrentparent), that carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question.The progeny of this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrentparent followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desiredtrait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five ormore backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, theprogeny will be heterozygous for loci controlling the characteristicbeing transferred, but will be like the superior parent for most oralmost all other genes. The last backcross generation is then selfed togive pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred.

A single cross hybrid maize variety is the cross of two inbred lines,each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of the other.The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F₁. In thedevelopment of hybrids only the F₁ hybrid plants are sought. PreferredF₁ hybrids are more vigorous than their inbred parents. This hybridvigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in many polygenic traits,including increased vegetative growth and increased yield.

The development of a hybrid maize variety involves three steps: (1) theselection of plants from various germplasm pools for initial breedingcrosses; (2) the selfing of the selected plants from the breedingcrosses for several generations to produce a series of inbred lines,which, although different from each other, breed true and are highlyuniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with differentinbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). During the inbreedingprocess in maize, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restoredwhen two different inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybridprogeny (F₁). An important consequence of the homozygosity andhomogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between a definedpair of inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give asuperior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproducedindefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents ismaintained.

A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed toproduce the F₁ progeny. A double cross hybrid is produced from fourinbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybridsare crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁hybrids is lost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed fromhybrid varieties is not used for planting stock.

Maize is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goalof plant breeders is to develop high-yielding maize hybrids that areagronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons for thisgoal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with theinputs used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to environmentalstresses. To accomplish this goal, the maize breeder must select anddevelop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids. Thisrequires identification and selection of genetically unique individualsthat occur in a segregating population. The segregating population isthe result of a combination of crossover events plus the independentassortment of specific combinations of alleles at many gene loci thatresults in specific genotypes. Based on the number of segregating genes,the frequency of occurrence of an individual with a specific genotype isless than 1 in 10,000. Thus, even if the entire genotype of the parentshas been characterized and the desired genotype is known, only a few ifany individuals having the desired genotype may be found in a large F₂or S₀ population. Typically, however, the genotype of neither theparents nor the desired genotype is known in any detail.

In addition to the preceding problem, it is not known how the genotypewill react with the environment. This genotype by environmentinteraction is an important, yet unpredictable, factor in plantbreeding. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict thegenotype, how that genotype will interact with various environments orthe resulting phenotypes of the developing lines, except perhaps in avery broad and general fashion. A breeder of ordinary skill in the artwould also be unable to recreate the same line twice from the very sameoriginal parents as the breeder is unable to direct how the genomescombine or how they will interact with the environmental conditions.This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large amounts ofresearch resources in the development of a superior new maize inbredline.

Pioneer research station staff propose about 400 to 500 new inbreds eachyear from over 2,000,000 pollinations. Of those proposed new inbreds,less than 50 and more commonly less than 30 are actually selected forcommercial use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred maize line,designated PH24E. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbredmaize line PH24E, to the plants of inbred maize line PH24E, and tomethods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred linePH24E with itself or another maize line. This invention further relatesto hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred linePH24E with another maize line.

Definitions

In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are usedherein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided. NOTE: ABS is in absolute termsand %MN is percent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbredor hybrid was grown. These designators will follow the descriptors todenote how the values are to be interpreted. Below are the descriptorsused in the data tables included herein.

ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were notbarren (lack ears).

BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near thetime of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbredwould snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Dataare presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest in bushelsper acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maize chloroticmottle virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarf mosaic virus(MDMV-A or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

COM RST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicatingthe resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid willreach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1-9rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fastwhile a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

DIP ERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodiamacrospora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toDiplodia Ear Mold. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears per plotand represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior toharvest.

D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for droughttolerance, and is based on data obtained under Stress conditions. A highscore indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poordrought tolerance.

EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to thehighest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches.

EAR MLD=General Ear Mold. Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1") is verysusceptible and a "9" is very resistant. This is based on overall ratingfor ear mold of mature ears without determining the specific moldorganism, and may not be predictive for a specific ear mold.

EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher therating the larger the ear size.

ECB 1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING (Ostrinianubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance topreflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB 2IT=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING(Ostrinia nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in thestalk.

ECB 28C=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1to 9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree of stalk breakageand other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer, Second Generation.A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB DPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis). Droppedears due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that did not dropears under second generation corn borer infestation.

EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishmentin the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on perplot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

EYE SPT=Eye Spot (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

FUS ERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforme or Fusariumsubglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toFusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GDU=Growing Degree Units. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory, whichassumes that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50° F.-86° F.and that temperatures outside this range slow down growth; the maximumdaily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimum daily heat unitaccumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is a major factor indetermining maturity zones.

GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heatunits required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time ofplanting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method,where the heat units for a 24-hour period are: ##EQU1##

The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimumtemperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certainnumber of GDUs to reach various stages of plant development.

GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for aninbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plantswith silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units arecalculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

GIB ERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. A higherscore indicates a higher resistance.

GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GOS WLT=Goss' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the generalappearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factorsas the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any crackedgrain. High scores indicate good grain quality.

H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively high plantdensities on 1-9 relative rating system with a higher number indicatingthe hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yield relative toother hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, andvery good yield response, respectively, to increased plant density.

HC BLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporiumcarbonum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toHelminthosporium infection. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicates thepercentage of plants not infected.

INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acreassuming drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvestmoisture and current market price per bushel.

INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over other hybridon per acre basis.

INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plantdensities on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating thehybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to otherhybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very goodyield response, respectively, to low plant density.

MDM CPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus andMCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating theresistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture ofthe grain at harvest.

MST ADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2--MOISTURE of variety#1=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilumturcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to NorthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant fromthe ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofpollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tasselscollected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tasselsharvested after shedding is complete.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routinemanipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in amale-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within thescope of the present claims.

POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000s per acre.

POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant population advantage ofvariety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANT POPULATION of variety#2--PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety#1.

PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relativematurity, is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relativematurity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standardlinear regression analyses and is also referred to as the ComparativeRelative Maturity Rating System that is similar to the MinnesotaRelative Maturity Rating System.

PRM SHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU) required toreach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted values from thelinear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity of commercialchecks.

RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that donot root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at anapproximately 30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

RTL ADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofscatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. Thehigher the score the less scatter grain.

SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amountof vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage(approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure ofthe hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A maizebreeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selectionindex. One of the traits that is almost always included is yield. Theselection index data presented in the tables represent the mean valueaveraged across testing stations.

SLF BLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis or Bipolarismaydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to SouthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

SOU RST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near thetime of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high scoreindicates better late-season plant health.

STD ADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 for the trait STK CNT.

STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plantsper plot.

STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did notstalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging orpushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that breakbelow the ear.

STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure thedegree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at thetime of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting attime of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger thetassel.

TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams)just prior to pollen shed.

TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE, A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would bevery soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or verysmooth crown).

TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that couldpossibly shed pollen was taken. Data is given as a percentage oftillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants perplot.

TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grainin pounds for a given volume (bushel).

TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of the grain inpounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for 15.5 percent moisture.

TSW ADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

WIN M%=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS.

WIN Y%=PERCENT YIELD WINS.

YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS.

YLD ADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 over variety#2 as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1--YIELD variety #2=yieldadvantage of variety #1.

YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relativerating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating thegreater visual yield appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inbred maize lines are typically developed for use in the production ofhybrid maize lines. Inbred maize lines need to be highly homogeneous,homozygous and reproducible to be useful as parents of commercialhybrids. There are many analytical methods available to determine thehomozygotic and phenotypic stability of these inbred lines.

The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation ofphenotypic traits. The data is usually collected in field experimentsover the life of the maize plants to be examined. Phenotypiccharacteristics most often observed are for traits associated with plantmorphology, ear and kernel morphology, insect and disease resistance,maturity, and yield.

In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can alsobe examined. There are many laboratory-based techniques available forthe analysis, comparison and characterization of plant genotype; amongthese are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple SequenceRepeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites.

The most widely used of these laboratory techniques are IsozymeElectrophoresis and RFLPs as discussed in Lee, M., "Inbred Lines ofMaize and Their Molecular Markers," The Maize Handbook,(Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc. 1994, at 423-432) incorporated hereinby reference. Isozyme Electrophoresis is a useful tool in determininggenetic composition, although it has relatively low number of availablemarkers and the low number of allelic variants among maize inbreds.RFLPs have the advantage of revealing an exceptionally high degree ofallelic variation in maize and the number of available markers is almostlimitless.

Maize RFLP linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widelyimplemented in genetic studies. One such study is described inBoppenmaier, et al., "Comparisons among strains of inbreds for RFLPs",Maize Genetics Cooperative Newsletter, 65:1991, pg. 90, is incorporatedherein by reference. This study used 101 RFLP markers to analyze thepatterns of 2 to 3 different deposits each of five different inbredlines. The inbred lines had been selfed from 9 to 12 times before beingadopted into 2 to 3 different breeding programs. It was results fromthese 2 to 3 different breeding programs that supplied the differentdeposits for analysis. These five lines were maintained in the separatebreeding programs by selfing or sibbing and rogueing off-type plants foran additional one to eight generations. After the RFLP analysis wascompleted, it was determined the five lines showed 0-2% residualheterozygosity. Although this was a relatively small study, it can beseen using RFLPs that the lines had been highly homozygous prior to theseparate strain maintenance.

Inbred maize line PH24E is a yellow, dent maize inbred that is bestsuited as either a male or female in crosses for producing firstgeneration F1 maize hybrids. Inbred maize line PH24E is best adapted tothe Northcentral region of the United States and can be used to producehybrids from approximately 106 relative maturity based on theComparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture ofgrain. As an inbred per se, maize line PH24E is a high yielding femalewith a resistance to barrenness. Inbred PH24E exhibits good cold testresults, good stalks and dark green plants. As an inbred per se, PH24Eexhibits excellent resistance to barrenness which makes it a reliableseed production parent. Inbred PH24E demonstrates excellent generalcombining ability. When in hybrid combination, PH24E exhibits high yieldfor its maturity with a stability over different environments across theNorthcentral Corn Belt. PH24E hybrids have excellent roots, good stalkstrength and quality and short plant stature. PH24E hybrids' short plantstature and associated reduced crop residues, make them well adapted toconservation tillage cropping systems. PH24E hybrids perform well fromthe eastern to western edges of the Northcentral Corn Belt.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for all the traits as described in the VarietyDescription Information (Table 1) that follows. The inbred has beenself-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations withcareful attention paid to uniformity of plant type to ensure thehomozygosity and phenotypic stability necessary to use in commercialproduction. The line has been increased both by hand and in isolatedfields with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits havebeen observed or are expected in PH24E.

Inbred maize line PH24E, being substantially homozygous, can bereproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting maizeplants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions withadequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed, using techniquesfamiliar to the agricultural arts.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION                                               INBRED = PH24E                                                                Type: Dent                                                                    ______________________________________                                        A. Maturity: Average cross maturity zones. Zone: 0                            GDU Shed: 1440                                                                GDU Silk: 1490                                                                No. Reps: 42                                                                  B. Plant Characteristics:                                                     Plant height (to tassel tip): 209 cm                                          Length of top ear internode: 16 cm                                            Number of ears per stalk: Single                                              Ear height (to base of top ear): 80 cm                                        Number of tillers: None                                                       Cytoplasm type: Normal                                                        C. Leaf:                                                                      Color: (WF9) Medium Green*                                                    Angle from Stalk: 30-60 degrees                                               Marginal Waves: (WF9) Few                                                     Number of Leaves (mature plants): 18                                          Sheath Pubescence: (W22) Light                                                Longitudinal Creases: (PA11) Many                                             Length (Ear node leaf): 83 cm                                                 Width (widest point, ear node leaf): 9 cm                                     D. Tassel:                                                                    Number lateral branches: 8                                                    Branch Angle from central spike: >45 degrees                                  Peduncle Length (top leaf to basal branches): 18 cm                           Anther Color: Yellow*                                                         Glume Color: Green*                                                           E. Ear (Husked Ear Data Except When Stated Otherwise):                        Length: 17 cm                                                                 Weight: 141 gm                                                                Mid-point Diameter: 43 mm                                                     Silk Color: Red*                                                              Husk Extension (Harvest stage): Medium (Barely Covering Ear)                  Husk Leaf: Long (>15 cm)                                                      Taper of Ear: Average                                                         Position of Shank (dry husks): Upright                                        Kernel Rows: Distinct, Straight Number = 14                                   Husk Color (fresh): Light Green*                                              Husk Color (dry): Buff*                                                       Shank Length: 13 cm                                                           Shank (No. of internodes): 9                                                  F. Kernel (Dried):                                                            Size (from ear mid-point)                                                     Length: 11 mm                                                                 Width: 9 mm                                                                   Thick: 4 mm                                                                   Shape Grade (% rounds) (35% medium round based on                             Parent Test Data) 20-40                                                       Pericarp Color: Colorless*                                                    Aleurone Color: Homozygous Yellow*                                            Endosperm Color: Yellow*                                                      Endosperm Type: Normal Starch                                                 Gm Wt/100 Seeds (unsized): 33 gm                                              G. Cob:                                                                       Diameter at mid-point: 25 mm                                                  Strength: Strong                                                              Color: Red*                                                                   H. Diseases:                                                                  Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV = Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus and                 MDMV = Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus): Susceptible                                 N. Leaf Blight (E. turcicum): Resistant                                       Common Rust (P. sorghi): Resistant                                            Eye Spot (K. zeae): Intermediate                                              Gray Leaf Spot (C. zeae): Intermediate                                        Fusarium Ear Mold (F. moniliforme): Resistant                                 I. Insects:                                                                   European Corn Borer-1 Leaf Damage (Pre-flowering): Intermediate               European Corn Borer-2 (Post-flowering): Intermediate                          ______________________________________                                         The above descriptions are based on a scale of 1-9, 1 being highly            susceptible, 9 being highly resistant.                                        S (Susceptible): Would generally represent a score of 1-3.                    I (Intermediate): Would generally represent a score of 4-5.                   R (Resistant): Would generally represent a score of 6-7.                      H (Highly Resistant) Would generally represent a score of 8-9. Highly         resistant does not imply the inbred is immune.                                *In interpreting the foregoing color designations, reference may be had t     the Munsell Glossy Book of Color, a standard color reference.                 Data for Items B, C, D, E, F, and G is based primarily on a maximum of 2      reps from Johnston, Iowa grown in 1994, plus description information from     the maintaining station.                                                 

Data for Items B, C, D, E, F, and G is based primarily on a maximum of 2reps from Johnston, Iowa grown in 1994, plus description informationfrom the maintaining station.

Industrial Applicability

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a maize plantby crossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maize plantwherein the first or second parent maize plant is an inbred maize plantof the line PH24E. Further, both first and second parent maize plantscan come from the inbred maize line PH24E. Thus, any such methods usingthe inbred maize line PH24E are part of this invention: selfing,backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like.All plants produced using inbred maize line PH24E as a parent are withinthe scope of this invention. Advantageously, the inbred maize line isused in crosses with other, different, maize inbreds to produce firstgeneration (F₁) maize hybrid seeds and plants with superiorcharacteristics.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts,plant cell tissue cultures from which maize plants can be regenerated,plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, kernels,ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk andthe like.

Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta (1985) 165:322-332 reflectsthat 97% of the plants cultured that produced callus were capable ofplant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and hybridsproduced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In a further studyin 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports (1988),7:262-265 reports several media additions that enhance regenerability ofcallus of two inbred lines. Other published reports also indicated that"nontraditional" tissues are capable of producing somatic embryogenesisand plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., Maize Genetics CooperationNewsletter, 60:64-65 (1986), refers to somatic embryogenesis from glumecallus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant Cell Reports, 6:345-347(1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of maizeleaf segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state ofthe art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are, and were,"conventional" in the sense that they are routinely used and have a veryhigh rate of success.

Tissue culture of maize is described in European Patent Application,publication 160,390, incorporated herein by reference. Maize tissueculture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes, "PlantRegeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize," Maize for Biological Research(Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 1982, at367-372) and in Duncan, et al., "The Production of Callus Capable ofPlant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea MaysGenotypes," 165 Planta 322-332 (1985). Thus, another aspect of thisinvention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiationproduce maize plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of inbred line PH24E.

Maize is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material inindustry. The food uses of maize, in addition to human consumption ofmaize kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of maize dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The maize wet-milling industry can provide maize starch, maize syrups,and dextrose for food use. Maize oil is recovered from maize germ, whichis a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Maize, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant, is alsoused extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle, dairycattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of maize include production of ethanol, maize starch inthe wet-milling industry and maize flour in the dry-milling industry.The industrial applications of maize starch and flour are based onfunctional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesiveproperties, and ability to suspend particles. The maize starch and flourhave application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrialuses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundrybinders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other miningapplications.

Plant parts other than the grain of maize are also used in industry: forexample, stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs areused for fuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of inbred maize line PH24E, the plant produced from the inbredseed, the hybrid maize plant produced from the crossing of the inbred,hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid maize plant can be utilizedfor human food, livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

Performance Examples of PH24E

In the examples that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbredmaize line PH24E are presented as an inbred per se and in hybridcombination. The data collected on inbred maize line PH24E is presentedfor key characteristics and traits.

The results in Table 2A compare PH24E to its parent, PHP02. The inbredper se results show PH24E is significantly higher yielding than PHP02.Inbred PH24E has higher pollen weight and staygreen than PHP02.

Table 2B compares PH24E to PHJ90, a line with similar characteristics.The inbred per se results show PH24E is significantly higher yieldingwith higher staygreen than PHJ90. Inbred PH24E exhibits higherresistance to stalk lodging and brittle stalk than PHJ90.

The results in Table 2C compare PH24E to PHAP9, another inbred line withsimilarly characteristics. Inbred PH24E exhibits greater resistance tostalk lodging and brittle stalk.

Table 2D compares PH24E to PHKW3, another inbred line with similarcharacteristics. Inbred PH24E is significantly higher yielding and issignificantly shorter than inbred PHAP9. Inbred PH24E exhibits higherstaygreen scores than inbred PHAP9.

Table 2E compares PH24E to its other parent, PHN82. The inbred per seresults show PH24E is higher yielding with higher staygreen than PHN82.In addition, PH24E has a higher pollen score, tassel size and pollenweight than PHN82.

The results in Table 3A compare the general combining ability of PH24Eto PHP02. The results show that the PH24E hybrids and the PHP02 hybridshave similar yields. The PH24E hybrids have shorter stature than thePHP02 hybrids. Both sets of hybrids have above average resistance tostalk lodging and root lodging. The results in Table 3A are somewhatbiased because they represent a limited number of experiments in whichPH24E and PHP02 were crossed to the same tester. PH24E resembles inbredparent PHP02 much less than its other parent, PHN82. Inbreds PH24E andPHN82 have similar maturities of 1440-1490 and 1450-1500 heat units toshed and silk, respectively, and they have similar morphologies, yieldlevels, and harvest moistures. Inbred PHP02 is the older parent in termsof commercial production and is now in limited use in new commercialhybrids and will no longer be used in general combining ability testing.However, a professional plant breeder has expressed the expert opinionthat PH24E is superior to PHP02, and that, if PH24E were to be comparedto PHP02 using more appropriate testers than were used in theseexperiments, PH24E would have shown superior results to those of PHP02.

Table 3B compares the general combining ability of PH24E and PHJ90. Theresults show PH24E hybrids are significantly higher yielding withsignificantly higher staygreen than PHJ90 hybrids.

The results in Table 3C compares the general combining ability of PH24Eand PHAP9. The results show PH24E hybrids are higher yielding withsignificantly higher staygreen than PHAP9 hybrids. Both PH24E hybridsand PHAP9 hybrids show above average resistance to root lodging andstalk lodging.

Table 3D compares the general combining ability of PH24E and PHKW3. Theresults show the PH24E hybrids are significantly higher yielding withsuperior staygreen than the PHKW3 hybrids. The PH24E hybrids exhibithigher resistance to root lodging, stock lodging and brittle stalk.

                                      TABLE 2A                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                 VARIETY #1 = PH24E                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHP02                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU        TST SDG EST TIL GDU GDU                                    VAR ACR  ACR  MST  WT  VGR CNT LER SHD SLK                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   91.7 135  18.3 56.7                                                                              3.5 36.2                                                                              2.5 137.8                                                                             140.9                                  2   81.3 121  17.3 56.6                                                                              5.2 37.9                                                                              1.7 130.0                                                                             132.5                                  LOCS                                                                              21   21   26   15  31  61  48  51  50                                     REPS                                                                              40   40   45   29  45  95  64  56  55                                     DIFF                                                                              10.5 14   1.0  0.1 1.8 1.7 0.8 7.8 8.4                                    PROB                                                                              .001#                                                                              .005#                                                                              .002#                                                                              .746                                                                              .000#                                                                             .077*                                                                             .260                                                                              .000#                                                                             .000#                           __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL  TAS TAS PLT EAR RT  STA                                    VAR WT   WT   SC   BLS SZ  HT  HT  LDG GRN                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   120.4                                                                              111  5.8  9.0 5.6 73.0                                                                              33.4                                                                              93.0                                                                              5.4                                    2   83.8 77   6.4  6.3 6.4 72.1                                                                              30.0                                                                              93.5                                                                              4.0                                    LOCS                                                                              11   11   15   2   16  28  26  9   20                                     REPS                                                                              11   11   16   2   18  41  38  12  33                                     DIFF                                                                              36.6 34   0.6  2.8 0.8 0.8 3.3 0.5 1.4                                    PROB                                                                              .032+                                                                              .039+                                                                              .147 .500                                                                              .038+                                                                             .422                                                                              .001#                                                                             .836                                                                              .000#                           __________________________________________________________________________               STK  BRT  GRN  SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR DRP                                    VAR LDG  STK  APP  GRN SZ  EAR MLD PLT EAR                                    #   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   96.9 95.5 6.0  7.2 6.3 4.8 6.9 97.1                                                                              99.7                                   2   97.6 91.0 5.3  7.8 6.2 4.0 7.4 97.9                                                                              99.7                                   LOCS                                                                              11   16   4    9   6   5   11  36  4                                      REPS                                                                              21   21   8    10  6   5   12  44  8                                      DIFF                                                                              0.7  4.6  0.8  0.6 0.2 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.0                                    PROB                                                                              .552 .271 .215 .347                                                                              .611                                                                              .016+                                                                             .096*                                                                             .368                                                                              .964                            __________________________________________________________________________               GLF  NLF  EYE  COM ECB ECB                                                VAR SPT  BLT  SPT  RST 1LF 2SC                                                #   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS                                         __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   7.0  7.7  4.5  6.1 5.0 3.5                                                2   2.0  5.3  5.5  5.8 5.6 4.5                                                LOCS                                                                              1    3    2    6   7   3                                                  REPS                                                                              1    3    2    7   7   4                                                  DIFF                                                                              5.0  2.3  1.0  0.3 0.6 1.0                                                PROB     .020+                                                                              .000#                                                                              .562                                                                              .231                                                                              .000#                                       __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2B                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                 VARIETY #1 = PH24E                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHJ90                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU       TST SDG EST TIL GDU  GDU                                    VAR ACR  ACR  MST WT  VGR CNT LER SHD  SLK                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   92.3 138  18.9                                                                              56.3                                                                              3.5 34.8                                                                              2.4 137.7                                                                              141.0                                  2   73.8 107  16.9                                                                              56.3                                                                              5.1 36.5                                                                              3.4 133.8                                                                              137.3                                  LOCS                                                                              19   19   22  13  28  51  41  43   42                                     REPS                                                                              35   35   39  25  39  82  55  46   45                                     DIFF                                                                              18.5 31   1.9 0.0 1.6 1.7 1.0 3.9  3.7                                    PROB                                                                              .000#                                                                              .001#                                                                              .000#                                                                             .931                                                                              .000#                                                                             .114                                                                              .595                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                           __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL TAS TAS PLT EAR RT   STA                                    VAR WT   WT   SC  BLS SZ  HT  HT  LDG  GRN                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   109.5                                                                              82   5.5 9.0 5.5 72.5                                                                              33.4                                                                              92.3 5.4                                    2   119.3                                                                              89   6.8 9.0 6.5 70.4                                                                              32.4                                                                              98.2 2.3                                    LOCS                                                                              6    6    12  1   14  25  23  7    19                                     REPS                                                                              6    6    13  1   16  36  33  10   31                                     DIFF                                                                              9.8  6    1.3 0.0 1.0 2.0 1.1 6.0  3.1                                    PROB                                                                              .250 .265 .007#   .003#                                                                             .079*                                                                             .238                                                                              .247 .000#                           __________________________________________________________________________               STK  BRT  GRN SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR  DRP                                    VAR LDG  STK  APP GRN SZ  EAR MLD PLT  EAR                                    #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   98.4 96.6 6.3 7.4 6.2 4.8 7.2 96.7 99.5                                   2   88.7 93.0 4.5 7.9 6.2 5.4 7.6 95.6 100.0                                  LOCS                                                                              9    15   2   7   5   5   9   25   3                                      REPS                                                                              17   20   4   8   5   5   10  31   6                                      DIFF                                                                              9.6  3.7  1.8 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.3 1.2  0.5                                    PROB                                                                              .055*                                                                              .083*                                                                              .258                                                                              .177                                                                              .000#                                                                             .070*                                                                             .195                                                                              .212 .423                            __________________________________________________________________________               GLF  NLF  EYE COM ECB ECB                                                 VAR SPT  BLT  SPT RST 1LF 2SC                                                 #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS                                          __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   7.0  7.5  4.5 6.1 5.3 3.5                                                 2   2.0  4.0  6.0 4.7 7.5 3.0                                                 LOCS                                                                              1    2    2   5   6   3                                                   REPS                                                                              1    2    2   6   6   4                                                   DIFF                                                                              5.0  3.5  1.5 1.4 2.2 0.5                                                 PROB     .258 .205                                                                              .052*                                                                             .015+                                                                             .225                                         __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2C                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                 VARIETY #1 = PH24E                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHAP9                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU      SDG EST TIL GDU  GDU  POL                                    VAR ACR  ACR MST VGR CNT LER SHD  SLK  WT                                     #   ABS  % MN                                                                              ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   32.0 69  10.4                                                                              3.1 22.8                                                                              3.2 137.4                                                                              140.7                                                                              106.0                                  2   35.9 78  10.8                                                                              4.0 25.1                                                                              2.7 132.6                                                                              138.0                                                                              130.5                                  LOCS                                                                              1    1   1   21  38  28  41   40   5                                      REPS                                                                              1    1   1   21  53  29  42   41   5                                      DIFF                                                                              3.8  8   0.4 0.9 2.4 0.5 4.8  2.7  24.4                                   PROB             .052*                                                                             .026+                                                                             .743                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .015+                           __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL TAS TAS PLT EAR RT   STA  STK                                    VAR WT   SC  BLS SZ  HT  HT  LDG  GRN  LDG                                    #   % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   83   5.2 9.0 5.5 71.0                                                                              31.3                                                                              94.4 5.1  100.0                                  2   104  6.2 9.0 6.4 77.8                                                                              32.1                                                                              100.0                                                                              4.6  96.0                                   LOCS                                                                              5    11  1   15  16  15  4    7    1                                      REPS                                                                              5    11  1   16  17  16  4    7    1                                      DIFF                                                                              20   1.0 0.0 0.9 6.8 0.9 5.6  0.6  4.0                                    PROB                                                                              .018+                                                                              .002#   .004#                                                                             .001#                                                                             .462                                                                              .061*                                                                              .280                                 __________________________________________________________________________               BRT  SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR GLF  NLF  STW                                    VAR STK  GRN SZ  EAR MLD PLT SPT  BLT  WLT                                    #   ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   97.1 7.2 6.3 5.0 6.9 95.3                                                                              4.0  7.7  7.0                                    2   96.2 7.7 6.3 5.0 6.7 97.8                                                                              2.5  6.0  6.0                                    LOCS                                                                              9    9   6   4   11  11  2    3    1                                      REPS                                                                              9    10  6   4   12  11  2    3    1                                      DIFF                                                                              0.9  0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 2.4 1.5  1.7  1.0                                    PROB                                                                              .722 .272                                                                              .000#                                                                             .000#                                                                             .676                                                                              .282                                                                              .656 .038+                                __________________________________________________________________________               EYE  COM ECB ECB                                                          VAR SPT  RST 1LF 2SC                                                          #   ABS  ABS ABS ABS                                                   __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   4.5  5.8 5.0 3.5                                                          2   5.0  5.0 6.9 5.0                                                          LOCS                                                                              2    4   7   2                                                            REPS                                                                              2    4   7   2                                                            DIFF                                                                              0.5  0.8 1.9 1.5                                                          PROB                                                                              .500 .215                                                                              .032+                                                                             .205                                                  __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2D                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                 VARIETY #1 = PH24E                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHKW3                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU       TST SDG  EST  TIL GDU  GDU                                  VAR ACR  ACR  MST WT  VGR  CNT  LER SHD  SLK                                  #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS ABS  ABS                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   95.5 142  18.6                                                                              56.3                                                                              3.4  37.2 2.7 138.8                                                                              142.0                                2   74.7 116  18.3                                                                              56.3                                                                              3.7  33.4 2.2 139.2                                                                              142.5                                LOCS                                                                              18   18   23  13  30   71   53  56   55                                   REPS                                                                              33   33   38  23  41   110  74  67   66                                   DIFF                                                                              20.9 26   0.4 0.1 0.3  3.7  0.4 0.4  0.4                                  PROB                                                                              .000#                                                                              .003#                                                                              .238                                                                              .821                                                                              .366 .002#                                                                              .590                                                                              .368 .396                          __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL TAS TAS  PLT  EAR RT   STA                                  VAR WT   WT   SC  BLS SZ   HT   HT  LDG  GRN                                  #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS ABS  ABS                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   138.6                                                                              103  5.8 9.0 5.7  71.8 33.2                                                                              93.7 5.3                                  2   157.9                                                                              117  5.9 7.8 5.0  77.4 33.5                                                                              89.3 4.0                                  LOCS                                                                              20   20   22  2   15   25   23  9    20                                   REPS                                                                              28   28   31  2   17   35   33  14   31                                   DIFF                                                                              19.2 14   0.1 1.3 0.6  5.6  0.4 4.5  1.3                                  PROB                                                                              .030+                                                                              .029+                                                                              .627                                                                              .500                                                                              .112 .001#                                                                              .731                                                                              .502 .000#                         __________________________________________________________________________               STK  BRT  GRN SCT EAR  TEX  EAR BAR  DRP                                  VAR LDG  STK  APP GRN SZ   EAR  MLD PLT  EAR                                  #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS ABS  ABS                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   98.9 95.6 6.3 7.3 6.3  4.8  6.8 97.5 99.5                                 2   96.3 97.7 7.0 7.4 4.8  6.6  7.1 94.1 100.0                                LOCS                                                                              9    19   2   8   6    5    10  32   3                                    REPS                                                                              16   26   4   9   6    5    11  38   5                                    DIFF                                                                              2.7  2.1  0.8 0.1 1.5  1.8  0.3 3.4  0.5                                  PROB                                                                              .072*                                                                              .374 .830                                                                              .763                                                                              .017+                                                                              .001#                                                                              .496                                                                              .002#                                                                              .423                          __________________________________________________________________________               GLF  NLF  STW EYE COM  ECB  ECB                                           VAR SPT  BLT  WLT SPT RST  1LF  25C                                           #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS  ABS  ABS                                    __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   4.0  7.7  7.0 4.5 6.1  5.0  3.7                                           2   2.5  6.0  5.0 6.5 5.7  6.6  3.3                                           LOCS                                                                              2    3    1   2   6    7    3                                             REPS                                                                              2    3    1   2   7    7    3                                             DIFF                                                                              1.5  1.7  2.0 2.0 0.4  1.6  0.3                                           PROB                                                                              .656 .130     .295                                                                              .486 .025+                                                                              .667                                   __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2E                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                 VARIETY #1 = PH24E                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHN82                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU       TST SDG EST TIL GDU  GDU                                    VAR ACR  ACR  MST WT  VGR CNT LER SHD  SLK                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   103.6                                                                              120  19.4                                                                              56.8                                                                              3.7 38.3                                                                              3.9 139.9                                                                              143.2                                  2   94.2 112  21.7                                                                              55.9                                                                              4.0 41.5                                                                              3.7 144.0                                                                              148.1                                  LOCS                                                                              13   13   14  10  14  31  26  25   25                                     REPS                                                                              24   24   25  19  22  50  44  37   37                                     DIFF                                                                              9.4  9    2.3 0.9 0.3 3.2 0.2 4.1  4.8                                    PROB                                                                              .097*                                                                              .266 .000#                                                                             .000#                                                                             .326                                                                              .005#                                                                             .831                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                           __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL TAS PLT EAR RT  STA  STK                                    VAR WT   WT   SC  SZ  HT  HT  LDG GRN  LDG                                    #   ABS  % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   165.2                                                                              96   6.1 5.3 72.9                                                                              34.4                                                                              97.6                                                                              5.1  95.7                                   2   109.5                                                                              63   4.9 3.9 72.3                                                                              28.3                                                                              100.0                                                                             3.8  96.7                                   LOCS                                                                              8    8    14  8   14  13  3   11   6                                      REPS                                                                              16   16   23  9   24  22  5   19   12                                     DIFF                                                                              55.6 34   1.2 1.4 0.6 6.2 2.4 1.3  1.0                                    PROB                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .012+                                                                             .064*                                                                             .550                                                                              .000#                                                                             .423                                                                              .041+                                                                              .643                            __________________________________________________________________________               BRT  GRN  SCT EAR TEX EAR BAR DRP  GLF                                    VAR STK  APP  GRN SZ  EAR MLD PLT EAR  SPT                                    #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS  ABS                             __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   93.3 5.8  7.2 6.3 4.5 6.3 97.2                                                                              100.0                                                                              7.0                                    2   95.1 6.4  6.8 5.3 4.8 7.0 98.2                                                                              100.0                                                                              6.0                                    LOCS                                                                              6    2    6   3   4   6   14  1    1                                      REPS                                                                              10   4    7   3   4   7   18  2    1                                      DIFF                                                                              1.7  0.7  0.3 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.0  1.0                                    PROB                                                                              .433 .758 .576                                                                              .225                                                                              .391                                                                              .102                                                                              .577                                     __________________________________________________________________________               NLF  EYE  COM ECB ECB                                                     VAR BLT  SPT  RST 1LF 2SC                                                     #   ABS  ABS  ABS ABS ABS                                              __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   8.0  4.0  5.8 4.0 3.5                                                     2   6.0  1.0  5.8 3.7 4.0                                                     LOCS                                                                              1    1    4   3   2                                                       REPS                                                                              1    1    4   3   2                                                       DIFF                                                                              2.0  3.0  0.0 0.3 0.5                                                     PROB          .000#                                                                             .667                                                                              .500                                             __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 3A                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24E To PHP02 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL     BU  BU  PRM     TST SDG EST GDU                                       IND PRM ACR ACR SHD MST WT  VGR CNT SHD                                       % MN                                                                              ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              16  15  68  68  12  78  52  17  50  28                                    LDCS                                                                              16  15  62  62  12  68  48  17  48  25                                    PH24E                                                                             100 101 160 101 100 96  54  83  101 99                                    PHP02                                                                             102 101 162 103 99  96  54  98  107 98                                    DIFF                                                                              2   0   2   2   1   0   0   16  6   2                                     PR > T                                                                            0.37                                                                              0.91                                                                              0.45                                                                              0.18                                                                              0.02                                                                              0.89                                                                              0.44                                                                              0.02                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                           __________________________________________________________________________               GDU STK PLT EAR RT  STA STK BRT GRH EYE                                       SLK CNT HT  HT  LDG GRN LDG STK APP SPT                                       % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              7   89  40  40  45  33  65  8   7   5                                     LOCS                                                                              7   77  38  38  38  30  59  6   5   5                                     PH24E                                                                             99  99  96  97  102 93  100 99  102 4                                     PHP02                                                                             96  102 97  95  104 97  101 100 99  5                                     DIFF                                                                              3   3   1   2   2   4   1   1   3   0                                     PR > T                                                                            0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.14                                                                              0.24                                                                              0.41                                                                              0.46                                                                              0.46                                                                              0.71                                                                              0.61                                                                              0.37                           __________________________________________________________________________               ECB ECB ECB DRP NLF                                                           DPE 1LF 2SC EAR BLT                                                           ABS ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS                                                __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              12  2   4   45  4                                                         LOCS                                                                              12  2   3   44  2                                                         PH24E                                                                             100 7   7   100 7                                                         PHP02                                                                             100 7   7   100 7                                                         DIFF                                                                              1   1   0   0   0                                                         PR > T                                                                            0.19                                                                              0.80                                                                              0.18                                                                              0.03                                                                              0.50                                               __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons witb LOCs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 3B                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24E To PHJ90 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL     BU  BU  PRM     TST SDG EST GDU                                       IND PRM ACR ACR SHD MST WT  VGR CNT SHD                                       % MN                                                                              ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              39  38  168 168 34  181 123 61  125 65                                    LOCS                                                                              39  38  153 153 34  162 111 58  119 61                                    PH24E                                                                             104 104 172 106 103 98  54  90  99  100                                   PHJ90                                                                             97  103 162 99  103 100 54  100 99  100                                   DIFF                                                                              6   1   10  6   0   2   0   10  0   1                                     PR > T                                                                            0.00                                                                              0.01                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.66                                                                              0.04                                                                              0.93                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.87                                                                              0.14                           __________________________________________________________________________               GDU STK PLT EAR RT  STA STK BRT GRN EYE                                       SLK CNT HT  HT  LDG GRN LDG STK APP SPT                                       % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              14  185 93  93  92  76  140 14  36  16                                    LOCS                                                                              14  166 87  87  79  67  124 11  33  16                                    PH24E                                                                             100 99  97  98  100 99  100 100 99  5                                     PHJ90                                                                             101 100 97  99  104 82  100 102 103 4                                     DIFF                                                                              0   1   0   1   4   18  0   2   4   1                                     PR > T                                                                            0.64                                                                              0.26                                                                              0.65                                                                              0.48                                                                              0.27                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.96                                                                              0.25                                                                              0.34                                                                              0.01                           __________________________________________________________________________               ECB ECB ECB DRP GLF NLF                                                       DPE 1LF 2SC EAR SPT BLT                                                       ABS ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS ABS                                            __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              25  2   26  75  1   6                                                     LOCS                                                                              25  2   23  70  1   3                                                     PH24E                                                                             100 8   6   100 1   6                                                     PHJ90                                                                             99  9   6   100 1   4                                                     DIFF                                                                              0   1   1   0   0   1                                                     PR > T                                                                            0.38    0.11                                                                              0.34    0.16                                           __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 3C                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24E To PHAP9 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL     BU  BU  PRM     TST SDG EST GDU                                       IND PRM ACR ACR SHD MST WT  VGR CNT SHD                                       % MN                                                                              ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              64  65  256 256 56  259 179 121 230 94                                    LOCS                                                                              64  65  246 246 56  249 173 113 220 90                                    PH24E                                                                             102 105 173 105 104 98  55  89  98  100                                   PHAP9                                                                             98  104 166 101 103 97  55  102 103 99                                    DIFF                                                                              4   1   7   4   1   1   0   13  5   1                                     PR > T                                                                            0.01                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.08                                                                              0.96                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                           __________________________________________________________________________               GDU STK PLT EAR RT  STA STK BRT GRN EYE                                       SLK CNT HT  HT  LDG GRN LDG STK APP SPT                                       % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              ABS                            __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              28  278 149 149 94  130 196 26  60  23                                    LOCS                                                                              27  265 142 142 91  126 188 22  57  23                                    PH24E                                                                             99  97  97  97  103 104 101 101 97  5                                     PHAP9                                                                             100 100 104 105 102 98  102 98  91  5                                     DIFF                                                                              1   3   6   8   1   6   1   4   6   0                                     PR > T                                                                            0.03                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.70                                                                              0.04                                                                              0.13                                                                              0.34                                                                              0.07                                                                              0.26                           __________________________________________________________________________               ECB ECB DRP GLF NLF                                                           DPE 2SC EAR SPT BLT                                                           ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS ABS                                                __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              57  30  124 3   7                                                         LOCS                                                                              57  30  120 3   4                                                         PH24E                                                                             100 7   100 3   7                                                         PHAP9                                                                             99  6   100 3   6                                                         DIFF                                                                              1   0   0   0   1                                                         PR > T                                                                            0.02                                                                              0.18                                                                              0.03                                                                              0.42                                                                              0.04                                               __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 3D                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24E To PHKW3 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________                SEL     BU  BU  PRM     TST SDG EST GDU                                       IND PRH ACR ACR SHD MST WT  VGR CNT SHD                                       % MN                                                                              ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              ABS % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                          __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS 47  48  144 144 42  170 100 63  138 61                                   LOCS 47  48  143 143 42  161 99  63  137 60                                   PH24E                                                                              100 105 175 105 103 96  54  91  97  100                                  PHKW3                                                                              95  102 168 101 103 92  56  94  97  100                                  DIFF 5   2   7   4   0   4   2   3   0   0                                    PR > T                                                                             0.05                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.61                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.40                                                                              0.86                                                                              0.88                          __________________________________________________________________________                GDU STK PLT EAR RT  STA STK BRT GRN EYE                                       SLK CNT HT  HT  LDG GRN LDG STK APP SPT                                       % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              % MN                                                                              ABS                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS 13  180 99  99  92  95  135 8   38  20                                   LOCS 13  171 98  98  85  91  129 6   37  20                                   PH24E                                                                              99  98  98  98  104 103 100 102 104 6                                    PHKW3                                                                              100 98  99  98  98  73  95  101 114 6                                    DIFF 1   1   1   0   6   31  5   1   10  0                                    PR > T                                                                             0.12                                                                              0.32                                                                              0.16                                                                              0.84                                                                              0.06                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.20                                                                              0.00                                                                              0.89                          __________________________________________________________________________                ECB ECB ECB DRP NLF                                                           DPE 1LF 2SC EAR BLT                                                           ABS ABS ABS % MN                                                                              ABS                                               __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS 21  1   12  81  6                                                        LOCS 21  1   11  81  3                                                        PH24E                                                                              100 8   5   100 6                                                        PHKW3                                                                              100 7   4   100 3                                                        DIFF 0   1   1   0   3                                                        PR > T                                                                             0.33    0.02                                                                              0.20                                                                              0.01                                              __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >=10.            

Deposits

A deposit of the seed of inbred PH24E is and has been maintained byPioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 700 Capital Square, 400 LocustStreet, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2340, since prior to the filing date ofthis application. Access to this deposit will be available during thependency of the application to the Commissioner of Patents andTrademarks and person determined by the Commissioner to be entitledthereto upon request. Upon allowance of any claims in the application,the Applicant(s) will make available to the public without restriction adeposit of at least 2500 seeds of inbred PH24E with the American TypeCulture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, Md., 20852. The seeds depositedwith the ATCC will be taken from the same deposit maintained at PioneerHi-Bred and described above. Additionally, Applicant(s) will meet allthe requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809, including providing anindication of the viability of the sample when the deposit is made. Thisdeposit of Inbred Maize Line PH24E will be maintained in the ATCCDepository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it ever becomesnonviable during that period. Applicant will impose no restrictions onthe availability of the deposited material from the ATCC; however,Applicant has no authority to waive any restrictions imposed by law onthe transfer of biological material or its transportation in commerce.Applicant does not waive any infringement of its rights granted underthis patent or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 etseq.).

The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding.However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications suchas single gene modifications and mutations, somoclonal variants, variantindividuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instantinbred and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention,as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Seed of maize inbred line designated PH24E andhaving ATCC Accession No.
 97925. 2. A maize plant and its parts producedby the seed of claim 1 and its plant parts.
 3. Pollen of the plant ofclaim
 2. 4. An ovule of the plant of claim
 2. 5. A maize plant havingall the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofclaim
 2. 6. A male sterile maize plant otherwise having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 2.7. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of an inbred maize plant PH24E,wherein the tissue regenerates plants capable of expressing all themorphological and physiological characteristics of the maize plant namedPH24E, the seed of which have been deposited and have ATCC Accession No.97925.
 8. The tissue culture of claim 7, the tissue culture selectedfrom the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips,anthers, silks, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, stalks, cells andprotoplasts thereof.
 9. A maize plant regenerated from the tissueculture of claim 7, capable of expressing all the morphological andphysiological characteristics of inbred PH24E.
 10. A method forproducing first generation (F₁) hybrid maize seed comprising crossing afirst inbred parent maize plant with a second inbred parent maize plantand harvesting the resultant first generation (F₁) hybrid maize seed,wherein said first or second parent maize plant is the maize plant ofclaim
 2. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein inbred maize plant PH24E isthe female parent.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein inbred maize plantPH24E is the male parent.
 13. An F₁ hybrid seed grown therefrom producedby crossing an inbred maize plant according to claim 2 with another,different maize plant.
 14. An F₁ hybrid plant and its parts grown fromthe seed of claim 13.